Improvement in straw-cutters



2 sheets-sheet 2.

JQBARON. Straw-Cutter.

No. 199,893. Patented-Feb. 5,1878.

Fig. J

N.PETE.RS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. n C.

UNITED' STATH sf 4SIIEATHNT GTFIOH.

'l JOSEPH BARON, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

1. v IMPROVEM ENT lNv STRAW-C'UTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,893, dated February5, 1878; application filed March 3, IS7/7.

ton, county of Montgomery and State of Ohio,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Feed-Gutters, of which thefollowing is a` specification The invention relates to the feedingmechanism, the manner of adjustment to regulate the length of cut, andthe attachment of the cutters to the balance-wheel.

The object of my invention is the construction of a rapidly-operatingfeed-cutter by attaching knives to the face of the wheel on oppositesides of its axis, and adapting a feeding mechanism thereto, so that twocuts are made in each revolution, the same being readily adi justed tocut varying lengths of feed, and a device to instantly arrest the feedwhen obstructions are met.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicate like parts, Figure 1 is a top view of the feed-cutter. Fig. 2is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view of the same.Fig. 4 is a side view ofthe oscillating arm which carries the feedshaft.Fig. 5 is a rear view, illustrating the device for adjusting the lengthof cut. Fig. 6 is a front viewr ofthe shield.

'D represents a substantial quadrangular frame, which supports thesuperincumbcnt parts. Across the top of this frame is firmly secured thefeed-box C, which is of the usual form.

To the front of the frame may be attached the shield` N by pins p',which enter eyes r', attached to the same. The use of this shield is toprotect the operator from contact with the knives.

On top of the name, and near the front, are bearings, which support theshaft K. On this shaft, and within the cast-iron end Gr of the feed-box,is a corrugated roller, and immediately above is a similar roller, K',the spindles passing through lengthened orificesy of the feed-box; andexternal to the box are stirrups t', connected to the arm kf, which isattached to the end of the long spring h', the opposite end beingsecured to the under side of the feed-box. This device serves to holdthe roller on the material as it isbeing carried forward to becut,moving up and down to accommodate the varying thickness'of material.This roller is driven from a cog-wheel, whichis connected to the rollerby a jointed arm, L, the cog-wheel being driven by the cog-Wheel j',attached to the shaft K. (See Fig. 3.)

The shaft K has bearings, one on each side of the frame, and near eachend is connected an oscillating arm, J, which arms incloseratchet-wheels W, attached to the shaft; and inclosed within the armsare also pawls m', backed by the springs o, to cause the pawls to engagethe ratchet-wheels when the movement of the arm is upward. The relationof these parts is fully illustrated by Fig. 4.

On top and to the rear of the frame is supported, in suitable bearings,a short transverse shaft, to which, at the inner end, is attached thebevel-wheel H. On the other end of this shaft is attached the crank E,and, when it is desirable, a band-pulley may be substituted. Anothershaft, F, supportedinbearings on the frame and at a right angle to thedriving-shaft, has on the left-hand end the bevelpinion I, which meshesinto the wheel H, by which it is driven. To the right end is attached alarge balance-wheel, M. To the arms of this Wheel are secured, bybrackets, the knives A A. These brackets have oblong orifices for thescrews, for the purpose of adjusting the knives in contact with the endof the cuttingbox. (See Fig. 3.) v

Connected by a clutch to the shaft, external to the frame, is acrank-plate, c', and a pitman, b', connects the wrist of this plate tothe arm a, and this latter is iixedly attached to the shaft a2, which issupported in bearings on the frame beneath the box. To this shaft isattached the cross-arm df, the ends of which connect, by jointed straps,to the oscillating arms which operate the feed-rollers.

At Fig. 2 is shown a spring-arm, g', which has a lateral projection,that actuates the Ordinary form of clutch and holds the same in gear,the other part of the clutch being connected to the crank-plate7 and bythis means the feeding mechanism is operated from the shaft F. When itis desirable to arrest the motion, the arm may be thrust forward; thenthe clutch is released, and the catch f drops down and holds the clutchout of gear. When it is desired to throw the clutch in gear, the

catch is raised, and vthe-arm throws it again into gear.

The crank-plate has a series of holes, in which threads are cut for thecrank-pin, and by changing the pin in these holes the length of thecutis regulated. The farther the wristpin is carried from the center thelonger the cut. As the shaft beneath the feed-box is kept in constantmotion, and the arm extends on both sides, communicating` with theoscillating ratchets, the feed has thereby two motions to eachrevolution, corresponding to the movement of the knives.

The operation is nearly identical with that of the ordinary feed-cutter,and may be described thus: The straw is placed in the box and is pressedforward, so that the rollers will engage it, it being` projected twiceby the feeding mechanism, and is cut at each half-revolution by theknives attached to the balancewheel. If any hard material is met with inthe straw the clutch-arm may be thrust for ward, and the feedingmovement instantly ceases.

' Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the motor or crankshaft, the feed-roll shaft K,and the ratchet-andpawl devices connected to the two ends of said shaft,of the herein-described mechanism for imparting feed movement to theroll through the medium of the two pawl-and-ratchet devices, operatingalternately, thus producing two feed movements to every revolution ofthe cutter-wheel. l JOSEPH BARON.

Witnesses:

B. PICKERING, J. J. BELVILLE.

